Manufactured road marker for pedestiran crossing and all kinds of roadways

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to road markers for pedestrian crossings and roadways. A plurality of frame structures consisting of rods are connected by cross members, said frame structures being close to each other lengthwise and crosswise in order to obtain manufactured-items made up of a plurality of solid color porcelainized stoneware blocks, said blocks being further slidable inside the above mentioned frame structures employing said rods as guide members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a manufactured road marker forpedestrian crossings and all kinds of roadways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As for pedestrian crossings, on the surfaces of the roads involved,sections parallel to each other, generally, but not exclusively whitestriped, alternating with road bed areas, are created.

This solution is adopted worldwide.

It is to be noted that these pedestrian crossings can be simply made bycoloring the road bed or by using, for example, porphyry or marbleblocks, of different colors.

The solutions adopted so far have many drawbacks.

A first drawback is represented by the poor visibility soon reached bypaints, particularly the white paint, due to oily solutions, and aboveall, to rubber tire deposits. The first drawback becomes even morepronounced in bad weather when, on the road bed, slippery with rain,pedestrian crossings become hardly visible.

A second drawback is specifically related to pedestrian crossings madeof porphyry or marble blocks. With heavy traffic and particularly withheavy loads, marble blocks break up and, in any case, either marble andporphyry blocks are likely to be removed from their respective seats,thus creating craters in the pavement. The foregoing drawbacks givebirth to a further problem represented by law suits and damage claimsfor accidents due both to poor visibility of the pedestrian crossing andto the presence of potholes.

Another problem, once again related to pedestrian crossings whose stripsare made up of porphyry and marble blocks, is represented by the longtime required for the laying of the blocks, which results in high totalcosts.

Some of the above mentioned drawbacks, particularly the removal of theblocks and their high laying or installation cost, apply to manufactureditems suitable for creating special roadways, such as squares and cyclepaths. Though free from problems connected to heavy loads, they have toconform to aesthetic requirements together with safety standards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioneddrawbacks.

In particular, the device for making manufactured-items, such as roadmarkers for pedestrian crossing areas and roadways of the typeconsisting of a plurality of blocks close to each other, which is theobject of the present invention, is characterized in that the roadmarker combines:

-   -   a plurality of frame structures, each consisting of two pairs of        rods tightly secured to a plurality of cross members; said frame        structures being adapted to be fixed onto a layer of cement cast        on the ground;    -   a plurality of solid color porcelainized stoneware blocks, each        of said blocks being securable to the frame structures following        the guide provided by the two pairs of rods.

This and other features will be better understood from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment, which is to be intendedin all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block fitting the frame structure;

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the frame structure coupled to a block;

FIG. 3 shows a block having a smooth upper surface;

FIG. 4 shows a block having a knurled upper surface;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of said second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows the block and the frame structure of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a block of the above mentioned second embodiment having asmooth upper surface; and

FIG. 8 shows a block of the above mentioned second embodiment having aknurled upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, number 1 refers to a frame structure made ofmetal consisting of two pairs of rods 2 parallel to each other andtightly secured to each other by a plurality of cross members 3; number4 refers to a stop member tightly secured to the last cross member 3 ofthe frame structure 1; number 5 refers to a plurality of reinforcingrods; number 10 refers to a block being slidable inside the framestructure 1 following the guide given by the two pairs of rods 2.

The term “a pair of rods” 2 means two rods placed on the same shortvertical slide 3 a of each cross member 3. Each of said cross members isU-shaped, with its opening upwards, that is towards the aforementionedrods 2; the securing points between rods 2 and the cross members 3 arelocated in coincidence with both the short vertical sides 3 a of each ofthe aforementioned cross members. The stop member 4 is tightly securedto the last cross member 3 in coincidence with the short vertical sideportions 3 a between the two pairs of rods 2.

Said stop member 4 performs the function of stopping the sliding of thefirst block 10 inserted into the frame structure 1.

A plurality of reinforcing rods 5 is tightly secured onto the longhorizontal side 3 b of each cross member 3; these rods make the framestructure 1 more stable and prevent the mutual displacement of the crossmembers 3. The above mentioned plurality of reinforcing rods 5 may beomitted without affecting the performance of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the solid color porcelainized stoneware block 10 hasa lower portion 7, an upper portion 8, and a central portion 9.

In a plan view, portions 7, 8 and 9 have a square configuration.

At the bottom of the lower portion 7 is a plurality of grooves 6,parallel, angled or perpendicular to each other, in order to provide abetter grip between the above mentioned block 10 and the cement layercast during the laying operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, each block 10 is shaped in such a way that:

-   -   the height of the central portion 9 is smaller than the gap        between the two rods 2 making up each of the two pairs;    -   the width of the central portion 9 is greater than the distance        between the two pairs of rods 2 and lower than the gap between        the two short vertical sides 3 a of each cross member 3;    -   both lower portion 7 and upper portion 8 width is smaller than        the gap between the two pairs of rods 2 of the frame structure        1.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the surface of the upper portion 8 of eachblock 10 has a smooth finishing but, as shown in FIG. 4, it might alsobe irregularly knurled or it might show a slantwise raised pattern. Theblocks 10 could be of any color, even making use of fluorescentpigments.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present inventionand specifically:

-   -   FIG. 5 is a cross section of said second embodiment of the        present invention;    -   FIG. 6 shows the block and the frame structure of the second        embodiment;    -   FIG. 7 shows a block of the above mentioned second embodiment        having a smooth upper surface; and    -   FIG. 8 shows a block of the above mentioned second embodiment        having a knurled upper surface.

Said second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5-8, is different from thepreferred one, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, being characterized asfollows:

-   -   in the second embodiment the frame structure is made up of two        rods 2 parallel to each other and tightly secured to a plurality        of cross members 3 in coincidence with the short vertical sides        3 a of each said cross member, as shown in FIG. 5;    -   in the second embodiment of the present invention each block 10        is shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 where the height of        the central portion 9 is greater than the thickness of the rods        2 and its width is smaller than the gap between the two rods 2;        moreover the width of both the upper portion 8 and the lower        portion 7 is greater than the distance between the two rods 2.

As for the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 described above, the secondembodiment provides the upper portion surface 8 to be smooth finished,as shown in FIG. 7, or irregularly knurled, as shown in FIG. 8 or havingan irregular slantwise raised pattern. Now with reference to the figuresthe operation of the present invention will be described.

The setting up of an area to be covered with blocks 10 requires thefollowing steps:

-   -   first, each frame structure 1, necessary to create the        manufactured item, will be filled with the blocks 10 making said        blocks slide along the rods until the first block so fitted in        hits the stop element 4; each frame structure will thus be        filled in with the blocks inserted one after the other, each        hitting the previous one.    -   once the road surface to be covered with blocks 10 has been        prepared at a depth slightly greater than the thickness of the        device object of the present invention, it will be covered with        a cement casting, either a cement grout or in solid phase, and        the frame structures provided with the blocks, when ready, will        be supported thereby.

During the laying or installation operation, the frame structure 1,including the blocks 10, can be located in place either one by one orside by side lengthwise, or sideways, so as to leave a hollow space atleast one centimeter thick among the above mentioned frame structures.Obviously the number of the frame structures, filed in with blocks usedin the laying step will vary depending on the extent of the manufactureditem to create.

While assembling the plurality of the aforementioned structures andblocks 10, great attention is to be paid to correctly alternate colors,for example in the case of pedestrian crossings.

After laying the frame structures 1 complete with blocks 10, if the gapsbetween one block and the other and the hollow spaces between the singleframe structures show portions left uncovered by the upwards flux of thecasting, a further casting will have to be provided in order to clog upsaid portions.

For pedestrian crossings, a plurality of groups of structures 11, filledin with blocks 10, suitably arranged on the road bed, is needed tocreate the pedestrian crossing.

As shown in FIG. 9, each group of structures 11 is made up of four framestructures 1 lined up sideways and tightly secured to each other bywelded seams on the short vertical sides 3 a mutually touching.

A first advantage of the present invention is that pedestrian crossingsand street furniture areas can be quickly set up.

A second advantage is that the colors used for the blocks prove to befast, even in severe situations of wear, as porcelainized stoneware issolid color which results in good long lasting visibility. In thisconnection, it is worth noticing that porcelainized stonewarereconditions through smoothing.

A further advantage is offered by the device strength due to severalfactors; the frame structures provided inside the device, the materialeach block is made of, and the fact that the device, as a whole, isblocked by the upwardly flowing cement casting which will cover all thejoints between the blocks and the hollow spaces existing between theframe structures.

A further relevant advantage is that the frame structures, making up theroad marker which is the object of the present invention, employs easyand inexpensive manufacturing methods. Also the laying or installingstep of the present invention can be easily and quickly performed.

Although the description clearly refers to porcelainized stonewareblocks, the road marker of the present invention proves quite effectiveeven when the blocks are made of not stonewared ceramics, glass paste,resins, cement and its by-products, powders from processings such asmilling and smoothing processes, for example.

The description simply mentions that the blocks are made of solid colorporcelainized stoneware; obviously the blocks can be obtained by drawingor extruding, and either dry or plastic pressing.

Once again the description specifically refers to the fact that theframe structures are made of metal, but it is clear that the device maybe fully effective even using frame structures made of hard plastics.The description specifically mentions frame structures consisting ofrods parallel to each other tightly secured to a plurality of U-shapedcross members. However it is clear that the road marker of the presentinvention works efficiently even if said plurality of cross elements isreplaced with a simple U-shaped metal sheet, which it might beperforated, or with a U-shaped wire net.

Other modifications and revisions may occur to the skilled artisan.Consequently, the appended claims should be literally construed in amanner consistent with applicant's inventive efforts, and should not belimited to their literal terms.

1. A road marker for pedestrian crossing areas and roadways consistingof a plurality of blocks close to each other, wherein said markercomprises: a plurality of frame structures, each consisting of guidemeans tightly secured to one or more cross members; said framestructures being adapted to be fixed onto a layer of cement cast on theground; a plurality of solid blocks, each of said blocks being securableto the frame structures and being slidable inside said frame structuresfollowing the guide means.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled) 5.The road marker according to claim 1, wherein the frame structures aremade of metal or hard plastic.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The road markeraccording to claim 20, wherein each block has a lower portion and anupper portion adapted to be flush with the road surface, both saidportions having their width smaller than the gap between the two pairsof rods of the frame structure; a central portion having its heightsmaller than the gap between the two rods making up each of the twopairs of rods and having its width greater than the distance between theabove mentioned two pair of rods and smaller than the gap between thetwo short vertical sides of each cross member.
 8. The road markeraccording to claim 1, wherein each block is made of ceramics or glasspaste, resins, cements and its by-products or powders from processingssuch as, for example, smoothing and milling processes.
 9. The roadmarker according to claim 1, wherein in a plan view, the upper portionof each block has a square configuration, said configuration ensuringthe best performance of the surface itself in terms of traffic.
 10. Theroad marker according to claim 1, wherein in a plan view, the upperportion of each block has a configuration of any shape.
 11. The roadmarker according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion surface of eachblock adapted to contact tires or to be the walking surface is smoothfinished.
 12. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein the upperportion surface of each block adapted to contact tires or to be thewalking surface has knurled finishing or a slantwise raised pattern;said knurling and said slantwise raised pattern can show either aparallel trend or be mutually angled.
 13. The road marker according toclaim 1, wherein on the bottom of the lower part of each block there isa plurality of grooves parallel, angled or perpendicular to each other.14. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofreinforcing rods is tightly secured onto the long horizontal side ofeach cross member being part of the frame structure.
 15. (canceled) 16.(canceled)
 17. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein during thelaying operation, the frame structures (1) are located in place eitherone by one or side by side lengthwise or sideways so as to leave ahollow space at least one centimeter thick between said framestructures.
 18. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein in orderto make pedestrian crossings, a plurality of groups of structures filledin with blocks is provided; each of said group of structures being madeup of four frame structures lined up sideways and tightly secured toeach other by welded seams in coincidence with the short vertical sidesmutually touching.
 19. The road marker according to claim 1, whereinsaid guide means consist of a couple of rods tightly secured to saidcross members.
 20. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein saidguide means consist of two pairs of rods tightly secured to said crossmembers.
 21. The road marker according to claim 19, wherein the rods ofeach frame structure are parallel to each other.
 22. The road markeraccording to claim 20, wherein the rods of each frame structure areparallel to each other.
 23. The road marker according to claim 19,wherein the cross members, to which the rods are tightly secured, areU-shaped having their opening facing said rods when the frame structuresare installed.
 24. The road marker according to claim 20, wherein thecross members, to which the rods are tightly secured, are U-shapedhaving their opening facing said rods when the frame structures areinstalled.
 25. The road marker according to claim 1, wherein the framestructures comprise a plurality of said cross members.
 26. The roadmarker according to claim 25, wherein each frame structure is providedwith a stop member tightly secured to the last cross member
 3. 27. Theroad marker according to claim 1, wherein each block is made ofporcelainized stoneware.